Wilson beats Franklin 34-7, earns state playoff berth

Trojans force QB Epley into four interceptions

By Erik Lyslo

The Portland Tribune, Oct 28, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

L.E. BASKOW / PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Wilson's Brent Graham (28) leaps over Franklin's Jon Bicmore (5) with Quaker Jordan Bird (20) in pursuit.

With a playoff berth on their mind, the Wilson Trojans ambushed the Franklin Quakers 34-7 Friday at Wilson High School, clinching the No. 3 state playoff spot from the PIL Class 6A.

Coming off a 47-0 win over Benson last week, Wilson's matchup with Franklin looked to be a much more difficult test for the Trojans.

The Quakers (5-3, 0-3 PIL) took first-place Lincoln down to the final play in a heart-breaking 48-43 loss last week in a game they felt they should have won.

But Wilson (3-5, 2-2) completely shut down the high-powered Franklin passing attack and ran the ball with relative ease.

The first half set the tone for the game and the Trojans did just about everything right defensively. After forcing consecutive turnovers by Franklin on an interception and a fumble, Taylor Newell picked off MacIan Epley at the Franklin 15-yard line and ran untouched to the end zone for a 6-0 Wilson lead.

After forcing the Quakers into another three-and-out drive, Brent Graham capped off a 10-play, 57-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Eric Wittkop ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead the Trojans would take into halftime.

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